Process for Producing Highly Activated Electrode Through Electro-Activation

Abstract

A method for treating a carbonaceous biochar electrode with an applied electric potential and resulting electric current, while submerged in an electrolyte, is disclosed in order to increase the biochar electrode's pore surface area and pore hierarchy, to affect a cleaning of unwanted materials and compounds from within the electrode and to optionally plate materials onto the surface pores of the electrode, such as graphene or metals, thus increasing the energy storage capacity of the biochar electrode when used in an energy storage device. Exemplary applications include electrodes for ultra-capacitors, pseudo-capacitors, batteries, fuel cells and other absorbing and desorbing applications.

1 . A method comprising:
 applying an electrochemical treatment of electrolysis to monolithic electrodes made from monolithic biochar wafers, thereby modifying desired properties of the monolithic biochar wafers.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an applied electric potential greater than 1.7 V is used to activate monolithic electrodes made from biochar wafers clamped to current conducting fasteners, and said biochar wafers are submerged into an electrolyte bath. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the applied electric potential and resultant electric current through the electrodes is effective to cause the electrolysis of water in the electrolyte bath. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein electrolysis of water on and within the submerged carbonaceous biochar electrodes submerged in the electrolyte bath generates free radicals and gases on the surface of, and within the pores of, the monolithic carbonaceous biochar electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the generated gases form gas bubbles. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the gas bubbles expand within the pores and on the surface of the biochar electrode and escape, pushing out, conveying out and transporting out other contaminants, particles and moieties existing in the pores of the carbonaceous biochar electrode and thereby cause removal of undesirable elements or material and/or further opens the pores of the electrode porous material causing additional electrode activation of the subject monolithic carbonaceous biochar electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis treatment is used for electrochemical reactions and gaseous cleaning of pores and removal of undesirable material including at least one of tars, oils, sugars, polysaccharides and other impurities from the biochar electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a co-solvent, a co-solute electrolyte or a combination of a co-solvent and a co-solute electrolyte, wherein the co-solvent and the co-solute electrolyte are selected from the group consisting of glycols, alcohols, aqueous potassium hydroxide, aqueous sulfuric acid, aqueous potassium chloride or combinations thereof, to enable at least one of graphene/graphite growth and deposition and plating on surfaces and within pores of the monolithic carbonaceous biochar electrodes of graphene and graphitic materials. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the sources of the carbon for the growth of graphene and graphitic structures on and within the surfaces, channels and pores of the carbonaceous biochar electrodes originates from the free-radical carbon moieties. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a counter-electrode of carbonaceous or non-carbonaceous structure and wherein the counter-electrode is used to assist the growth of graphene/graphite-like material under applied electric field, and said material is plated onto the electrode pores, channel walls and surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a metallic counter electrode is used for plating/growth of nanostructures on the surface and interior pores of the electrodes by metals in the solvent bath to improve the materials properties. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the applied electric voltage polarity of the electrodes is cycled every 2 to 4 minutes per polarity for two or more cycles. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the post-treatment monolithic biochar wafers exhibit an increase in capacitance, pseudo-capacitance and/or energy storage ability from the aforementioned treatments with applied electric voltage potential field and electrolysis embodiments. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolytically treated electrode is rinsed and dried for use in an aqueous application. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolytically treated electrode is rinsed and dried for use in a non-aqueous application. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the non-aqueous application is selected from the group consisting of ultra-capacitors using organic solvents. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the organic solvent is selected from propylene carbonate and acetonitrile. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising one or more dissolved salts. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the one or more dissolved salts are selected from tetra-fluoro-borates, hexa-fluouro-phosphates, ionic liquids, pyrrolidinium compounds, imidazolium compounds, BIS(triflouromethylsulfone)amides and a combination or moiety thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes treated by the disclosed method have advantageous performance improvements when applied to use in an ultra-capacitor, pseudo-capacitor, battery or fuel cell, or other absorbent and/or desorbing applications.